Show will bring back activity to hula site
THE ISSUE
A Pacific-focused show has opened in the former home of the old Kodak Hula Show.
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A POLYNESIAN-themed show tied to arts and crafts sales at a
site adjacent to the Waikiki Shell adds another attraction to Hawaii's tourism center while making use of a city-owned venue that has stood vacant for years.
Though the city's revenue gains will be small initially, about $2,250 a month, at least the facility at Kapiolani Park will see return of some daily activity.
At one time, a stop outside the Shell was a must for visitors to Hawaii, but since the Kodak Hula Show lost its namesake sponsor seven years ago and an a subsequent attempt at continuing the old-style program failed, the site has been largely unused.
The new enterprise, billed as a cultural village, hopes to draw tourists by selling made-in-Hawaii crafts during the day and presenting a buffet dinner and entertainment at night in the area makai of the Shell.
On dates when there are programs scheduled inside the Shell, the sales and dinner shows will close down so there won't be any conflicts.
The Waikiki Shell is favored for intimate outdoor concerts, like the Cazimero Brothers' May Day show, where spectators spread out on the grassy hill behind the seating. However, complaints about noise from nearby residents have curtailed performances. Because the new shows will end by 8:30 p.m., residents should not find them disturbing.
The show and sales operator, South Pacific Cultural Center, says its program will focus on Hawaiian and Pacific themes. Though Hawaiian entertainment is scattered in hotels across Waikiki, there are no comprehensive displays of Hawaiian culture or arts in the district. Considering tourists' growing appetite for learning about the traditions and characteristics of Hawaii, the new effort could fill a gap.
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